A/N: HEY GUYS! I'm so sorry I haven't updated for a while…I just got home from Maui this morning at 6:00AM. I was super tired today but I didn't want you guys to have to wait a minute longer, so I forced myself to sit down and write this. It wasn't hard though, I had it mostly all planned out in my head and was sooooo excited to finally get it down on paper.

So this chapter is just all cuteness and fluffiness! (But don't get too used to it)

Hope you enjoy!

R&R

Love you all

XXX Kate XXX

"How'd it go?" Cragen asked hopefully.

"Great. Cuffed em' both," Elliot said, crossing his arms over his chest in triumph.

"Thanks you two, I think I can handle the rest of the business – you take the kiddos home," he smiled.

"Thanks Cap, I hope they weren't too much trouble," Olivia winked.

"Little angels," Cragen assured.

On the silent car ride back to the apartment, Olivia was deep in thought, staring out the window. Her mind wandered, Could this really be happening – Elliot to her left and three beautiful children seated in the back? Was this all too good to be true?

In fact, it was too good to be true, she had to remind herself. This was a false reality – considering her and Elliot weren't really a defined relationship and the children weren't theirs in the slightest. In reality, the children could be ripped away from her and any second.

She tried to brush the negative thoughts away from her mind in fear of a sudden onset of tears.

"You know what…" she forced herself to smile, looking back at the children.

They all three cocked their heads in question, "What?" asked Noah curiously, removing his thumb from his mouth for a brief moment.

Olivia turned to Elliot and then back to the children, her smile growing, "It's only four thirty…and still light out, we should go to the park," her voice was pitched with excitement, "What do you say?"

Elliot grinned, "Sounds great Liv, you guys up for it?" he asked glancing in the rearview mirror.

The children beamed and nodded.

…

The snow was still fresh and powdery on the ground, shining in the sun that was trying to make its way from behind the clouds.

Olivia linked hands with Charlotte, her other hand clutching Natalie to her hip. Elliot held Noah.

Olivia tried her best not to imagine that they were actually a family.

Charlotte let go of Olivia's hand and raced off towards the play structure.

"Wait up!" Elliot hollered, a huge grin plastered on his face. He tossed Noah up in his arms and Noah laughed hysterically and clutched on to Elliot as they ran to catch up with Charlotte.

Natalie smiled sweetly and buried her face into Olivia – obviously more comfortable now that her siblings were more relaxed.

She wrapped her small arms around Olivia's neck and played daintily with the hairs under her pony tail.

Olivia melted at the girl's affection and almost choked at the aspect of losing her – she held her closer at the thought and kissed the side of her cheek.

Natalie didn't want to play and was content being in Olivia's arms, so Olivia held her while Elliot pushed both Noah and Charlotte on the swings.

They were giggling and pumping their feet, going higher and higher and Elliot was laughing right along with them.

Olivia couldn't help but love this side of Elliot…the childlike, carefree, loving side that barely ever came out at work.

She couldn't stop grinning.

…

After grabbing a few sandwiches at the market, picking up a few items at the grocery store, and buying a few pairs of clothes for the children, Olivia and Elliot had made their way back to Olivia's apartment.

All five of them were snuggled on the couch watching a movie when Elliot noticed that the children were drifting off.

"Liv," he whispered, nudging her gently.

She glanced up at him and he gestured to the children. She smiled and nodded, slowly raising herself from the couch.

"Can you get Noah?" Olivia asked, hoisting Natalie into her arms.

"Of course, we taking them to the spare bedroom?" he asked, lifting a drowsy Noah.

Olivia nodded and took Charlotte's hand.

"Bed time?" asked Charlotte sleepily.

"Yes, bed time sweetheart," Olivia whispered.

Olivia and Elliot laid them all side by side in the large bed.

"Will you be here in the morning?" Noah asked Elliot, tugging him down close to him.

Elliot smiled, "Olivia will be here in the morning and I will be back over as soon as I can," he assured.

Noah frowned but nodded, "Okay…I wuv you…and wivvy" he whispered curling in closer to his sisters.

Elliot smiled, "I love you too buddy."

"Love you all," Olivia said, tucking them in one by one.

"Please don't leave us," Charlotte whispered, "I want us to be with you forever," she said into Olivia's ear as she bent down to kiss her forehead.

"I'm gonna try my hardest honey," Olivia tried to smile.

When Olivia tucked in Natalie, Natalie just stared up at Olivia with her big blue eyes and still said nothing. But Olivia could see so many things written just below the surface and she wanted to badly for her to open up and say something.

Elliot must have sensed her yearning; he placed a hand on her shoulder, "Just give her time."

"Goodnight little ones," Elliot said taking Olivia's hand and turning off the light.

When the door was shut Olivia backed up against it and slid down slowly until she was sitting with her head in her hands.

"Liv…" Elliot whispered worriedly.

"I can't do this," she said.

"Olivia," he said sitting next her.

"It's so hard Elliot, I can feel myself getting attached…and…they aren't mine," she sobbed.

"Olivia, were gonna make sure you get to keep them," he assured, pulling her into his side.

"You can't promise that…we both know it."

"You're right, I can't. But I'm gonna try my damn hardest if it kills me, Liv."

Olivia said nothing but buried her face into Elliot's chest and just let him hold her.

"This is ridiculous; I've not even had them for twenty four hours…what made me think I could do this?"

"Because you can do this – I know you can. Liv," he said tilting her chin up to face him, "I always knew you would make an amazing mother, and seeing you with them today confirms it."

"Really?" she asked, a vulnerable look etched across her face.

"Yes. Now go relax, take a bath or something, I'll be back in the morning," he said, pressing his lips to her forehead.

"Okay…" she sighed, lifting herself up.

They hugged and she smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Can't wait," he smiled in return, "Now, I know where the door is, I can show myself out. You go get some rest Liv."

She nodded and turned towards her bedroom.

Once inside, she drew herself a bubble bath, dimmed the lights, removed her clothing, and eased herself into it the tub. The warm water felt good on her aching body and she was just about to close her eyes when a sudden soft tapping on the door startled her.

"It's Elliot," came a voice from the other side of the door.

Her heart rate slowed down as she recognized that it wasn't someone breaking in.

She was about to pull herself out of the tub when she thought against it, "Come in," she said instead.

Elliot opened the door hesitantly, expecting to find Olivia in her robe or at least a towel. He was pleasantly surprised when he found her instead, still in the bathtub – naked, he assumed, but he didn't know for sure considering her body was covered by bubbles.

She smiled, "I thought you left."

"I couldn't bring myself to leave," he said pausing to take in her beauty, "I, um, I'd be up all night worrying about you and the kids, and I thought maybe I could –

"Stay," Olivia finished.

"What?"

"Then stay."

"Okay," he smiled, "Then I'll just go pass out on the couch or –

"Elliot," she interrupted him.

He stopped, "Yeah?"

"Join me," she said softly.

He paused and looked at her questioningly, biting his lip.

She simply raised her eyebrows slightly, smirked and nodded.

It didn't take Elliot another second. He slipped off his shirt and then tentatively removed his slacks and briefs.

Olivia reveled in the sight, instantly writhing with desire.

Elliot slipped into the tub, across from Olivia, brushing only legs at first.

Olivia shyly sat forward and Elliot met her half way, their lips crashing against each other and their hands finding new places to roam.

"I…can't…believe…this…" Elliot breathed in between kisses.

"Hmm?" Olivia asked, somewhat distracted and finding it hard to concentrate on anything other than what was under the water.

"That were here," he whispered, "me and you," he continued.

"Yeah, I know, twelve years in the making," she said, smiling.

"Well it will sure make a great story," he said, barely loud enough for Olivia to hear.

"What?"

"To tell our kids one day," he continued.

This stopped Olivia in her tracks, "Kids?"

He just looked at her, hoping that he hadn't made a mistake, but she smiled.

"Already planning the future, huh Stabler?" she asked.

"Now that I have you, I don't want to let you go," he said.

That did it for Olivia – she slid on top of him, wrapping her legs around his torso and kissed him with all the passion she could muster.

A/N:

Did ya'll like it? ;)

Should I continue?